KenD500

We have the Assistant Patrol Leader who is assigned by the Patrol Leader.  That's it.

I tend to be more critical of my son than of the other Scouts.  Probably because I see him more.  It's something on which I've been working.

Another theory - they are more familiar with you, and therefore more comfortable, relaxed, etc.  This leads to not always their best behavior. 

I'm guessing they only offer it loose leaf due to cost.  It's the same as the local colleges offering government books (something that changes yearly) only loose leaf.

You could get yours bound.

Just curious, what would happen if you unit said you were holding the BOR and invited a district rep? 

 

I don't get this need by the district to pigeon-hole units in to their schedules.

Our District Advancement Chair would have a conniption fit.  And probably stop the paper work from making it to National. 

You're also in Circle 10 council.  Does your district still allow for Troop level EBORs?

In the past no.  Our Eagle boards have been all Troop parents with the exception of the District representative.  There really isn't a need to have an introduction.  Our District may be making a change to holding Eagle BoRs on the night of Round Table and the board members recruited by the District Advancement Chair.  If so, I can see the need and benefit of the SM introduction.

Our district & council went to district Eagle boards a couple of years ago.  1 Thursday each month is designated for them.

Last night, I introduced an Eagle candidate from our Troop to his Eagle BOR.  This was the first time doing so.  I had asked other SMs in the district what they say for an introduction.  Now I'm asking you.

Do you has Scoutmaster introduce your Eagle candidate at his Eagle board?  If so, what do you say?

Some of our skills instructions are advancement related.  First aid, cooking, knot tying - depends on the theme for the month.

One of my personal favorites - Fire Month

Skills Instruction:

- Merlin Patrol - begin building fire bow/drill (3 meetings) / make char-cloth

-Ghostly Goats - 1st meeting - ignition sources:  ferrocerium rod & striker, matches, battery/steel wool, lighter, practice using each while lighting cotton balls;

  2nd meeting - tinder - using favorite ignition source light different things to be used as tinder: cotton ball, cotton ball with vaseline, dryer lint, Fritos, char-cloth, etc

  3rd meeting - discuss / layout different fire types.  Build small fire.

Interpatrol activity - whatever game they find at the time.

Fishing #2

-opening flags

-skills instruction - how to cast safely (to yourself & others)

  Both Patrols together.  ASM from another Troop came in as requested (PL called to arrange after I provided contact info).  This guy is a fishing expert.

-Patrol meeting

-Inter Patrol activity

  Elbow beach ball relay - relay race holding a beach ball with only your elbows (round 1), holding beach ball with your elbows & jumping on 1 foot (round 2) & entire Patrol must hold beach ball with elbows (round 3)

-SM Moment

-closing flags

Beach balls $5,  I brought extra fishing poles, PLs brought extra fishing poles & 1 Committee member brought extra fishing poles

Relay encourages team work.

Fishing #1

-opening flags

-Skills activity

  - Merlins - removing fish hook from finger.  PL led.  Used brats/sausages so each could try it out on recommendation of local nurse.

  - Ghostly Goats - removing fish hook from finger.  PL led.

-Patrol meeting

-Inter Patrol activity

  -Get the Patrol across the gym without touching the floor.  Using a furniture dolly, & ~150' of rope, get your Patrol across the gym.  You can stand on the center court line & either base line.   After 1 Patrol wins, do it again without talking.

-SM Moment

-closing flags

Brats ~$8.

Inter Patrol activity encourages team work, communication and it's fun.  It's become on of their favorites.

From one of our Cooking meetings:

- opening flags

-Skills instruction

  -Merlins (older) made Scout bread from BSHB in sheet metal oven over backpacking stove  PL Led

  -Ghostly Goats (younger)  made Scout bread from BSHB in dutch oven over coals  PL led

Patrol Meeting

Interpatrol activity

-  Spud (found in the game section of Troop Program Resources)

-SM Moment

-Closing flags

Scout bread ingredients $5, charcoal $3, reimbursed from Troop funds.

Meeting plan from our backpacking trip:

-Opening flags

-Skills instructions

   -Merlins (older) - review of topo map for upcoming trip.  Route planning.  PL led

   -Ghostly Goats (younger) - compass/map use.  PL led

-Patrol Meeting

  -both Patrols collected grub money & decided menu

-Interpatrol activity

   -Blind compass relay (outside) with large paper grocery bag over their head & compass in hand (they could see their feet & their compass, the Scout was given a bearing to maintain for 100 paces, turn around & then return to start.  Then switch to next person.

-SM Moment

-Closing flags

I had the maps already.  The PLs brought their compasses.  I brought the large grocery bag (free).

I'm a big proponent of gradual changes in the Troop.  But in order for that to work, the SM, SPL & PLC have to have a road map/goal in mind.

Right now, one of my goals is to have an SPL running things and for me to only speak when asked & SM Moments.

I had a small step/victory towards that this past camp out.  We normally retire a flag or 2 during the Saturday night camp fire.  In the past, I led the flag detail and would say a few words.  This past camp out, I had a Scout volunteer to lead the flag detail.  He did a good job with it.  I was swollen with pride.  And I was able to shut my mouth 1 more time and take a step back.

The only snag I found (minor) - I normally dig the grommets out of the fire, clean them up & give them to the flag detail to wear on a shoulder cord on their uniform.  There's only 2 grommets per flag and now I had 3 Scouts participating.  Solution - I made a grommet with a red cord inside it to set it apart from the others.

It's the little victories that I really love/cherish.

Does your Troop have a process/method of selecting new ASMs?  Or is it any warm body that volunteers?  What ratio of SM-ASM/Scouts do you have?  Is this by accident or design?

Currently after the CoH ceremony, we have snacks - fruit, cheese, crackers, etc.  It has been suggested to make this into a supper with each patrol or family bring a dish.  It has also been suggested to keep it at light snacks.  There's pros/cons to both.

Does your Troop have food after your CoH?  Light snacks?  Full meals?  Something else?  Who provides the food?

first I heard of this one 

funny, the procedure to sign up to receive it isn't very obvious..... I am under the weather no so it might just be me...

 

but this reminds me of a similar thing I signed up for recommended by someone here, I think it was for merit badge counselors

I received one or two I think , then haven't seen them in a long time

The merit badge counselor one doesn't come out on a scheduled basis (that I know of).  It seems to be whenever they get around to it.

Anyone else subscribe to the BSA National Advancement team newsletter?  It comes out every 2 months and has some good info.

Here's a link to the latest edition.

Google BSA Troop Program Features.  There are 3 volumes with monthly themes and suggested Troop meeting plans.

I'm always on the lookout for "leadership" manuals.  One of the best I've found that breaks things down into a simple form is the Petty Officer 3 & 2 Leadership Fundamentals that the US Navy puts out.

From that book, the qualities/traits of a leader:

-high standards of performance

-moral courage

-dedication

-example

-initiative

-loyalty

-accountability

Know where to find the official information to counter act all of the myths & rumors.

@@Krampus has a pretty good list.  Ask for help should go along with accept help.

I like the PL Ceremony thing. What do you do @@KenD500 and @@Sentinel947?

We use a modified version of the PL Ceremony from the Troop Program Resources manual:

"The new patrol leader is called forward. He places

his left hand on the pole of the troop flag, above that of

the Scoutmaster, salutes, and gives the patrol leader’s

promise: “I promise to do my best to be worthy of my

office as patrol leader, for the sake of my fellow Scouts,

my patrol, my troop, and the world brotherhood

of Scouting.â€"

We use ceremonies at CoH, flag retirements & PL investiture.

We have a small, suburban Troop.  Surrounded by LDS Troops (small) and non-LDS Troops (big 60-120 Scouts).

Started 2015 with 5 Scouts; 1 being inactive.  1 SM (me) & no ASM.  Scouts were 16, 16, 15, 14, 12.  They functioned as 1 Patrol. 

At cross-over, we got 3 more.  They continued to operate as 1 Patrol but during Inter-Patrol activity time, they would split up.  They usually split by ages.  After 1 month of this, I proposed that they create 2 Patrols split where they had usually split.  The 12 y.o. became the PL of the younger group.

During the summer, we had 3 more.  They all went into the younger group.  When the Scouts originally visited, they worked with the younger Patrol so when they joined, that's who they knew.

Adults - 1 SM, 1 ASM - he was originally on the committee as we needed the numbers, 7 on the committee.  We had the District Advancement Chair come in to train a core group of 3 how to do a BOR.  The CC has trained the others.

Roles of adults - we teach the skill session portion of the Troop meeting when asked.  Seems to be about once every other month or so.  I have been leading the flag retirement ceremonies until this weekend when I had a Scout volunteer.  He did great and I can take another step back.

Dilemma we currently have:  The older Scout Patrol (Merlins) will soon be down to 2 due to age out.  What we (PLC & I) are pondering is if we have 3 or more Webelos cross this spring to have the youngest Scout from the younger Scout Patrol (Ghosty Goats) form a Patrol with the cross overs.  And have the Merlins continue to operate as a Patrol & be the Troop Leadership Corp.  We don't want to split the Patrols already formed.

So far, age based Patrols are working for us.  Mental maturity level is approx the same amongst the Patrol members.  When I hear New Scout Patrol, I think a temporary Patrol that is split up among the other Patrols as the Scouts advance.  Using that definition, we don't use NSP.

I think I answered everything.

Part of adult association -  the example we set.  The Scouts observe us constantly.  Are we "walking the talk"?  Do we do our best to follow the Scout Oath & Law, or are they just words to be said?  How do we interact with other adults?  How do we resolve conflict or a difference of opinions? 

So...in the opinion of the gun nuts out there, what is the best concealed carry firearm for BSA outings?

I'm ASSUMING (please forgive me if I'm wrong), that since Cyclops is asking this question, he/she is NOT a LEO.  IF he/she is NOT an LEO, then according to the G2SS, he/she shouldn't be carrying a firearm on an BSA outing.

Again, I'm making assumptions.  And they may or may not be right.